#HeritageChat October 2021 – Heritage & COP26

Ahead of the launch of our report Heritage Responds, #HeritageChat discussed Heritage & COP26.

COP26 is a great opportunity for UK organisations to think about their work, and how heritage is linked to climate change. Participants were asked to share the small and big steps they are taking to tackle climate change; where there are gaps in research; what policy changes need to be made to prioritise the reuse and repurposing of historic buildings. It was recognised that many conversations related to climate change focus on the built environment, so Heritage Chat participants explored how we can make sure other sectors are considered in decision-making, and how we can involve local communities. Linked to this last topic, the Chat finished with a focus on international matters.

This #HeritageChat was run by our own Suzanne Huggett-Jones (HEF COP26 Task Group Manager) in collaboration with the members of the task group and Emma Healey (Heritage Declares).

You can read the summary of the chat here.

#HeritageChat September 2021 – What do Universities need from the sector (and vice versa)?

September’s #HeritageChat discussed What do Universities need from the sector (and vice versa)?

This #HeritageChat was run in collaboration with Lizzie Glithero-West (the Heritage Alliance, HEF member and hosting organisation) and Oliver Cox (University of Oxford).

Participants shared ideas, thoughts and experiences on practical barriers and positive examples for collaboration; ways to diversify audiences and to enhance the sustainability of organisations through collaboration; policy challenges that collaboration could contribute to solve. In the last three questions, #HeritageChat addressed heritage organisations, students and academic research and asked them to share future outcomes for collaboration, practical needs and opportunities for support.

You can read the summary of the chat here.

#HeritageChat July 2021 – Industrial Heritage

July’s #HeritageChat was dedicated to Industrial Heritage.

Participants lively debated important topics for the future of industrial heritage, such as the skills that the next generation of industrial heritage volunteers need; steps to be taken to ensure that communities remain at the heart of industrial heritage; tips to engage younger generations; practical solutions to provide marketable experiences that are authentic and avoid over-commercialisation; adaptation of industrial heritage to a low carbon world and interpretation of their fuel use to a more environmentally aware audience (this is also connected to the work of our COP26 TG); main challenges and opportunities for industrial heritage in the next three years.

You can read the summary of the chat here.

#HeritageChat June 2021 – Reopening Heritage

June’s #HeritageChat focused on ‘Reopening Heritage‘, as many heritage venues and museums reopened (with capacity adapted to social distancing measures) in Step 3 of the Government Roadmap. ‘Reopening’ is also one of the main themes of the Heritage Recovery Plan, prepared by Historic England with and on behalf of the Historic Environment Forum. This chat was led in collaboration with Mike Heyworth, manager of the HEF Covid Task Group. 

Participants shared thoughts on: the positive aspects they noted when visiting a heritage venue since reopening, the feedback that venues and museums are receiving from visitors, lessons learned and challenges, further support needed for staff and volunteers, good tips to share with other heritage venues that still have to reopen.

You can read the full summary of the chat here.

#HeritageChat May 2021 – Future Innovation Challenges for Heritage

What does ‘innovation’ mean today in heritage? What challenges may be tackled through innovation? May’s #HeritageChat explored these topics, in collaboration with the National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Young Foundation. as part of a new research and development project. The chat built on the results of a series of workshops run by NLHF and The Young Foundation, and the responses shared in the chat will be included in their ongoing analysis.

The chat wanted to encourage ‘blue skies thinking’ in relation to innovation and collaboration in the sector. It started by exploring the ‘distribution’ of innovation in the last years, through the identification of the areas where heritage innovation energies have been concentrated over the last five years. Then, participants were asked to share case studies of effective collaboration between different parts of heritage (HEF is a successful example!) and of the adoption of innovations from beyond heritage. Participants shared thoughts on how to move forward, and on what would they need to innovate in their work. The chat concluded with a forward-looking question on future challenges in the next ten years. Read here the summary of the chat.

#HeritageChat April 2021 – The Future of Volunteering

In April 2021 #HeritageChat focused on ‘The Future of Volunteering‘, an vital topic for many organisations in the heritage sector. This topic was suggested by Michelle Cook, a young professional, who helped us lead the chat. 

Participants shared thoughts on: the current and future challenges for heritage volunteering; how to sustain it now and in future, making it more beneficial, fair and inclusive; volunteering as learning opportunity; how to improve the connection between local communities and heritage sites/museums through volunteering.

You can read the full summary of the chat here.